Scout Tracking Skills Guide

Learning to recognise tracks is one of the oldest and most valuable outdoor skills. Every footprint tells a story about what has passed through an area, whether it is a person, a dog, a deer, or another woodland animal. By carefully observing the shape, size, depth, and direction of a track, Scouts can identify who or what made it and even work out where it was heading.

When examining tracks, take your time and look for the small details. Consider the following:

• Shape – Is the track round, oval, or split into two hooves?
• Size – Measure the length and width to help identify the animal.
• Toe Marks – Count the number of toes and look for claw marks.
• Depth – Deeper prints may indicate a heavier animal or softer ground.
• Stride – Measure the distance between footprints to estimate the animal's speed.
• Direction of Travel – Look at the position of the toes to determine which way the animal was moving.

Tracks are easiest to spot in soft mud, wet sand, fresh snow, or damp woodland soil. After rain is often the perfect time to go tracking, as fresh footprints stand out clearly.

Remember that tracks are only part of the story. Broken twigs, flattened grass, disturbed leaves, feathers, droppings, fur, and feeding signs can all provide valuable clues. These are known as sign and help experienced trackers build a complete picture of what has happened in the area.

The key to becoming a good tracker is patience, careful observation, and practice. The more time you spend looking at the ground and the natural environment, the more signs you will begin to notice.

Scat, also known as droppings, can tell a tracker a great deal about the animals living in an area. By observing the size, shape, contents, and location of droppings, Scouts can identify different species and learn about their diet, behaviour, and movements.

When examining scat, never touch it with your hands. Instead, observe it from a safe distance or use a stick if instructed by a leader. Good hygiene is essential, and hands should always be washed after tracking activities.

What to Look For

• Size – Larger droppings usually come from larger animals.
• Shape – Pellets, tubes, piles, or twisted shapes can help identify the species.
• Contents – Look for seeds, berries, grass, fur, feathers, or insect remains, which reveal what the animal has been eating.
• Freshness – Fresh droppings are often moist and shiny, while older droppings become dry, faded, and may begin to break apart.
• Location – Droppings found on paths, under trees, or near burrows can provide clues about an animal's territory or regular routes.

Common Woodland Examples

• Rabbit – Small, round pellets found in clusters, usually near grazing areas.
• Deer – Oval or pointed pellets, often left in groups along woodland trails.
• Fox – Dark, twisted droppings with a pointed end, often containing fur, feathers, berries, or seeds.
• Badger – Droppings are usually found in shallow pits called latrines and often contain earthworms, fruit, or grain.
• Birds – Typically contain both dark waste and a white chalky section made of uric acid.

Scat should always be considered alongside other signs such as footprints, feeding marks, broken vegetation, nests, or fur. By combining these clues, Scouts can build a more complete picture of the wildlife around them while respecting animals and leaving their habitats undisturbed.